By strange coincidence (its very rare for me to be in a liquor store) I was in Winn-Dixie Liquors today and had a peek into the grocery cart that's full of the marked-down sale items. Imagine my joy when I saw four bottles of Cockspur 5 Star marked down to $10.99 a bottle! The 5 Star is one of my all-time favorite gold rums so I immediately grabbed all the bottles. I checked out the shelf space where it is usually stocked and there were no other bottles, nor was there the little empty spot behind a price marker designated for Cockspur rum. I asked if they were going to discontinue sales and the woman at the register assured me that "no, its just on sale" but I have my doubts.

Grab it up while you can. Even if its not being phased out its still a GREAT rum and a bargain at $11 a 750ml.

In honor of the upcoming Hukilau, I figured I give a report on the liquor stores close by to assist the out-of-towners.

There are 4 liquors stores off the 17th street causeway, which is one of the couple of ways to get to A1A, where the Yankee Clipper and Bahia Cabana reside.

Here is a brief review on 3 of the 4 stores. The fourth store was less equipped than your average Walgreens.

Total Wine & Spirits1906 Cordova Rd, Ft. Lauderdale
(954) 828-946317th Street crosses Cordova.
Wow, what an incredible place if you are a wine person. HUGE selection from all over. But I digress because this is really about rum.
The rum selection is just okay, but had a couple of nice staples.
St. James Amber and Extra Old.
Ron Diplomatico
Pritchards, 80 proof
Also found a rum from Barbados I've never seen before.
Anyone know anything about Doorly's? They had it in dark, white & XO.

67 Wine & Spirits1317 S.E. 17 Street, Ft. Lauderdale
(954) 767-9099
Call to find out closing time. Current hours indicate closing @ 9 PM.Its actually north on Cordova, across from the Winn Dixie.
Rum selection is okay. Kinda pricier on a few items by a dollar or two.
Of especial note was Mt. Gay Premium White. First time I've seen it in FL. They also have three types of the Voodoo Tiki Tequila behind the counter (blanco, resposado & anejo). VERY expensive.

Crown Wine & Spirits1645 Cordova Road, Ft. Lauderdale
(954) 525-6565
They carry ORGEAT! Just saw it on bottom of the rum section.
Also have St. James Amber. Angostura 1919 as well.
And for a special laugh, look at the "Instant Mai Tai mix" that doesn't require any alcohol. Ick but funny!

I stopped into Detroit Liquors in downtown St. Petersburg last night to pick up some concert tickets and discovered...

they stock all of the Trader Vic's rums!

I picked up a bottle of the dark to try out -- $15.99.

The store owner is from California so he gets stuff that he likes and misses on the east coast. We talked for awhile -- he used to stock the Trader Vic's syrups but no one bought them, so he stopped. He seems like the type of guy who would order a case for us if we got together.

The store is on the corner of Central and 2nd in St. Pete.
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The Crown Liquors up my way (US 1, Jensen Beach) has a pretty good selection or rums at reasonable prices. They were the ones that were able to get me two bottles of Saint James Hors D'Age but they didn't even know what Orgeat was let alone have it on a shelf! And . . . NO orange Curacao!

I'd sooner down a can of 'Old Frothingslosh" beer than put Blue Curacao in my Mai Tai! Fortunately my local Winn Dixie Liquors has Orange Curacao. The only thing you can't do at the Winn Dixie is ask any questions . . . because the person at the counter usually hasn't a clue.
I'm really surprised that the Crown Liquors hasn't any of the mixing syrups . . . they have huge displays of cheese and crackers, condiments, exotic finger food, olives, onions, etc., etc., but no Orgeat or long garnish spears. Pity

On 2006-09-30 06:30, GentleHangman wrote:...I'm really surprised that the Crown Liquors hasn't any of ...

I can' speak for the whole Crown company, but my local shop has been willing to order just about anything I ask for. Getting friendly with the manager seems to help, but just make yourself a 'known regular' and they will be able to find a few more things for you on thier regular orders.

It's unlikely I'll ever become one of their "regulars" being that I'm a Type 2 Diabetic and have to carefully control my alcohol intake... and also they are about 8 to 10 miles North of where I live. I actually 'stumbled'(bad choice of word?) across the place when I was coming home from an eye exam and thought I'd just check it out. As I said before they were willing to get the Saint James Hors D'Age for me (minimum 2-bottle order), but when it came to the Orgeat or other syrups they simply said that they have no call for it and would have to get it by the case.

So, I just wait until I need another 4 bottles or orgeat, throw in a few other syrups and order it online. It would just be nicer, next time I go up that way for glasses or an eye exam to be able to stop off there on my way home and 'stock up' on Hors D'Age, Orange Curacao and Orgeat, but I guess that's just wishful thinking on my part.